December 01, 2006
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising the naturalization test to create a test and testing process that is standardized, fair and meaningful. This will include uniform testing protocols and procedures nationwide to ensure that there is no variation between offices. USCIS will administer the pilot exam in early 2007 to about 5,000 volunteer citizenship applicants in 10 cities.
The main intention of a standardized test was to avoid inconsistencies which were reported in the way the exams were administered nationwide, and the lack of proper assessment of whether applicants had a meaningful understanding of U.S. history and government. To address these concerns, Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) had launched a test redesign project in 2000 that had included technical assistance from several test development contractors, the National Academy of Sciences, a panel of history and U.S. government scholars, and a panel of English as a Second Language (ESL) experts. In addition, USCIS had sought input from a variety of stakeholders, including immigrant advocacy groups, citizenship instructors, ESL teachers, and USCIS District Adjudications Officers.
The pilot test will allow USCIS to work out any problems and refine the exam before it is fully implemented nationwide in the spring of 2008. To refer questions and answers for New Pilot Naturalization Exam, please visit the USCIS website http://www.uscis.gov
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